Superpath Hip Replacement 3 weeks post op
Posted , 21 users are following.
hello everyone
im nervous about posting on here as I never in my life thought I'd be on a forum for patients so in some ways it is good I've learnt some humility as always thought I was indestructible as I've always been very sporty playing a lot of tennis, football, rugby and cycling as well as regular gym sessions.
Im 42 and last year after persistent groin pain that wasn't overly painful but nonetheless noticeable and wasn't going away after about a year I had an MRI scan, the results of which showed a FAI and laberal tear. My consultant told me the space between the ball and socket at one point was about 0.5mm and therefore I was too far gone to even attempt keyhole surgery and that I needed a THR of right hip. Being the cautious sole I am I had a couple of other opinions by consultants all of whom said same thing.
I kind of didnt take it too seriously as i wasnt in great pain and was still very active, playing a lot of tennis running and cycling. The most noticeable thing was during sexual intercourse in missionary when I could feel a grinding sensation in the groin and clicking. Obviously that became somewhat of a passion killer.
As time went on the pain was pain was getting more noticeable during tennis and my consultant suggested cortisone injections and sinvisc plus. The cortisone injections did great but only lasted around 3 weeks per injection. I didn't notice any great difference with the sinvisc plus.
Still up to around april/may this year I was still playing a lot of sport and walking fine. But then in June during a very brutal game of tennis while hitting a running forehand I experienced an almighty crunch in the hip and a bit of pain, not too much as I'd only just had last cortisone shot. This was a Saturday when the crunch happened.
No problems on saturday evening or sunday Sunday but the Monday when at work after being seated when I went to get up I was in agony and couldn't move. Hip/groin locked.
Since then this sensation continually happened if I bent my leg then tried to straighten it. I had an injection into a tendon that my consultant said was getting trapped and that did work but only for two weeks. I was at the stage where getting off toilet was a massive challenge. Once unlocked it wasn't too bad. I could walk ok and pretty quick. I noticed if I did no sport (or sexual relations) the locking subsided but as soon as I was more active the issue came back. My consultant told me it was a very personal choice when to have a THR but my quality of life was being affected and the aim of a THR was to improve that quality. He then told me about the Superpath technique which I loved sound of and he was one of very few surgeons who did this. I elected to have the super path and it was done on September 15.
Im 19 days post op and can walk with one crutch pretty quick but when I try without a crutch I'm struggling as hip is stiff. I can bend leg upwards well and outwards and can squat. Obviously no locking now.
my concern is I've seen you tube videos of people able to cross their legs and walking with no aids at all and in no pain. I have no pain when lying down or sitting down save for a bit of soreness where the wound is but my main worry is I do get a lot of groin pain when exercising or trying to lift my leg keeping it straight. Also when I walk the groin hurts and while other pain seems to be getting better the groin doesn't at all.
I go for my first physio appointment in two days time and I'm worried that this groin pain means something isn't right. I've gone into so much detail as wanted to explain how I was before the operation. Has anyone had the superpath and if so what were your experiences at this stage. I've read somewhere that the illopsis tendon can be damaged and of course when I was locking up before the THR I wonder if that tendon took some damage.
sorry if this is really long winded but it's all very stressful as I've never so much had a filling in my teeth let alone major surgery so I'm not sure where I should be and what I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
7 likes, 395 replies
m05 gary45745
Posted
Hi all
Sorry slow to get back survived 2 'days' at work keeping it easy first week or so and have agreed to take on extra cover so I can have a Wednesday off don't know what I will do with the time hopefully go to the gym . It does feel good to start to get back to some sort of normality even with just one done the relief is immense and the lack of pain so far from the op is unbelievable compared what some unfortunately seem to go through firmly believe SuperPath has a lot of early advantages although there is still a lot of deep healing going on.
Had first physio today it helps to build confidence in what you can and can't do with the new joint. Should be ok to get into pool next week i want to try and improve my posture and gait by walking in water something which is going to be difficult otherwise with the bad left leg. Great to hear all doing well skiing is tough on the knees but glad you had a great time Judith there is some good cream out which has been recommended by a number of people for knees can't remember the name but will find it out and let you know. Be in touch again soon.
gary45745 m05
Posted
Sounds like you are doi g great. How manybweeks post op are u?
I saw Mr cronin today gor my check up and he was very pleased. Im 5 mo ths post op and almost as good as new. No pain at all really.
Glad u r doing well.
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Hi Gary,
?I know you replied to Martin, but you know I had to chime in! lol Fantastic that you are almost 100% at 5 months. Truly amazing! Any running yet? I'm about to have my tennis racquets restrung.. to go hit with a pro... and I'm 2.5 months! The trainer brought a platform that is filled with air. So not only do you have to step up and down, but use your core to balance. I kept asking her to bring it; she was concerned about me falling... but there was nnnnnoooo problem at all .. and it was a pretty high step.. So I will keep you all posted with the tennis progress. Believe it or not, its freezing her ( high 30's ) and SNOWING!! ..but just flurries.. wont stick. I always get a kick out of it when it snows. People here abandon their cars when there is an inch of snow! Crazy. Ok.. back to work I go.,
?SO happy you are doing so well!!!! xoox
judith12644 m05
Posted
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
I had no idea las vegas got so cold !!
So am i right to say u pretty much back to normal now? Xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Hi Gar,
?Glad to hear you have the all clear from your Doctor! Truth is, until it gets a little warmer here, I don't want to play tennis either. .Although I'm not starting out in any games, I would say I feel like I'm about 98%..very now and then I feel something.. not anything hurting..but a minor dull ache. I'm chalking it up to the healing process.
I'll know how truly far along I am once I hit with the pro. I tested "running" a teeny drop the other day... Every time I am about to try something I haven't done in 9 years.. I am very delicate about it. lol.. And trust me, I am no delicate flower! I was like wow.. I can run again. Just got done working and it felt so awesome to be walking up and down steps in the houses I showed without any hesitation or pain. I am still amazed at the rate of recovery I have experienced. But don't forget, unlike you.. I did not wait until I was bone on bone, so that might have helped make things so much easier for me. Are you pretty much doing everything now?
?It can get really really cold here. There is a ski area about an hour from here. I'd rather be golfing or playing tennis! xoxo
judith12644 gerriberri66
Posted
gerriberri66 judith12644
Posted
I know, no one thinks of Nevada as getting cold. Only difference is we refuse to put on coats lol. How often do you go skiing. Any update on the outdoor pool? Anyway, hope all is well with you! Xo
m05 judith12644
Posted
Hi Judith sorry its taken me a while to get back to you getting back to work seems to have sapped my mental capacity ! That cream is called FLEXISEQ Sport I didn't try it on my hips think they were too far gone for cream but did try on my thumb joint that plays up at times and it did seem to help, it was recommend by a guy I know who has knee problems and he was adamant it made a big difference. I ordered it off Amazon by far the best prices if you search around, let me know what you think if you try it.
All the best
Martin
judith12644 m05
Posted
Re skiing Gerri, always used to go twice a year, but then lately we’ve just managed once. However, this year, the snow is so amazing that we grabbed a last minute deal and went in February; but really we are going later in March. We’re very lucky. It’s freezing in London, woke up to blue skies and snow today, and went for a swim. Apparently the outdoor pool repairs are with the insurance company, hm......
Hope you are well Gerri, and maybe your weather will warm up! All the best to you too Martin.
m05 judith12644
Posted
Hi Judith hope all well and you have survived this weather ok !
Just doing a bit of future planning assuming tht my hips both recover well there are a few 'bucket list ' adventures I would like to tick off . When you have been skiing have you had any issues with insurance ie have you been refused or had special terms put on the policy because of hip replacement be interested to know.
All the best Martin
judith12644 m05
Posted
Today the snow has disappeared completely in London. Quite weird.
Hope you’re feeling well, it’s not been good weather for hippies.
All the best,
Judith
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
You are doing amazing. Pretty much now im back to normal i even carried my uncles coffin last week. Not tried running yet as snowing here and my consultant told me to stay off treadmill and run on soft ground.
Like u i get that dull ache at times. Wonder if that is something we have to live with xx
gary45745 m05
Posted
Long time no hear. How you both getting on?
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Doing fantastic! Sent you a private message.